According to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, there is no need for the government to legalize medical marijuana for it is already allowed in the country. KAMI learned from Inquirer that Sotto argued that it was under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“That’s what’s in the law already. It’s allowed already, may proseso lang,” Sotto said in an interview.

Sotto was the principal author of RA 9165 and he said that medical marijuana is allowed for ‘compassionate use’ as stated in the law.

As mentioned in RA 9165 Sec. 2, the government shall aim to achieve “balance in the national control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.”

Sotto also said that it is the physician’s duty to apply for the substance permit from Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

“In other words, in the Dangerous Drugs Act, combined with the FDA circular, we have a compassionate use provision. It’s allowed already,” Sotto stated.

As previously reported by KAMI, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, President Rodrigo Duterte supports the legalization of medical marijuana in the Philippines. He is most likely to sign any bill that will legalize it.

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